Gov. Bentley puts signature on "Carly's Law"

File Photo: The Chandler family poses for a photo in the Alabama State House on March 20.

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

After a long fight, a Birmingham family's mission to help their daughter get the help she needs is starting to pay off. Tuesday, Governor Robert Bentley signed Senate Bill 174, known as "Carly's Law".

The legislation was named after young Carly Chandler, a 3-year-old who suffers from a severe neurological disorder. Her parents say cannabidiol oil, made from the oil of marijuana plants, helps with her seizures, but they've had to fight to make it legal in Alabama.

With Gov. Bentley's signature, the legislation will allow for a study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to examine the effectiveness of cannabidiol oil to treat seizure disorders such as epilepsy. The law goes into effect on June 1.

"As a doctor, I have always been supportive of medical research to discover new medicines that may be able to cure or treat some of our most chronic diseases," Governor Robert Bentley said. " From the beginning, I supported a clinical trial of cannabidiol oil to research the effectiveness of helping patients with debilitating seizure disorders."

The governor added, "I hope this Alabama-led medical study can bring relief to children, like Carly Chandler. I appreciate the efforts of Carly's parents to get this bill passed by the Legislature, and I am honored to officially sign it today."